Fuel gas vaporizer



Sept. 21, 1943. A. J. FAUCHER FUEL GAS VAPORIZER Filed NOV. 18, 1940 &

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Patented Sept. 21, 1943 2,329,750 FUEL GAS vAroRrzEn Andrew J. Faucher,Grand Prairie, Tex, assignor of one-hall to Bryce R. Sprayberry, Dallas,

Tex.

Application November 18,1940, Serial No. 366,129

ZClaims.

This invention relates to apparatus for and method of vaporizingcondensed gases and it has particular reference to such apparatus andmethod for the control of gas in butane systems.

Fuel gas systems employing butane are in popular demand, more especiallyfor supplying homes and factories with'gaseous fuel when located out ofthe areas served by natural gas, although in many cases suchinstallations are made even when natural gas is available, due primarilyto the economy thereof. In any case, installation specifications requirethat the butane tank be disposed under the ground at a level below thepoint of gas consumption. This precaution is taken to preventaccumulation of condensation at a low point in the supply line andwhich, if permitted to remain in a liquid state at low temperature,would condense, resulting not only in failure of the system to operateat the time most needed and probable damage to the pipes but would alsopresent a hazard as it extremely important" that the fuel be deliveredat the point of ignition in the form of a vaporous gas. I

The present invention has for its principal object, the provision ofapparatus capable of overcoming the objectionable features heretoforepresent in conventional butane installations by, first, vaporizingcondensed gases by the application of heat, whether the installation isfor buildings, or trucks or any other uses. Second, maintaining bysuitable regulator means, the required gas pressure on the utility sideof the system as against higher pressures on the storage side. Third,automatic controlof the applied heat as an insurance against anypossible hazard which might be created by overheating.

Another object of the invention resides in its unusual adaptability toautomobile vehicles and in which the heating medium is afforded throughthe water system of such vehicles, al-

though an electrical auxiliary heating'medium is provided as a temporaryagent during periods when the liquid in the water system of the vehicleis heating to an effective temperature.

It is a further object of the invention to provide stationary vaporizerswith electrical heating means where this form of heating agent isdesired or determined to be more suitable.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has particularreference to its salient features of construction and arrangement ofparts which will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a vaporizer constructedaccording to the present invention, showing a stationary installation.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 on Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view taken on line 33 on Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view taken on line 44 on Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the inventionadapted for use on automobiles, and Y Figure 6 is a sectional view takenon line 66 on Figure 5.

Continuing witha more detailed description of the drawing, it is firstpointed out that butane and other similar fuel systems for residences,

factories and the like include the tank containing the fluid which isburied in the ground at a safe distance from the building and at a depthsufficient to insure that the tank discharge is somewhat below the pointof consumption in order that the condensate will gravitate back to thereservoir rather than appear at the point of consumption in this form.This will prevent a dangerous fire hazard since this, liquid is 'highlyvolatile and vaporizes rapidly in a warm enclosure.

The conventional'storage reservoir is not shown in the drawing butreference numeral l0 designates the supply line from the reservoir andsurrounding this pipe is a water jacket I I, closed at both ends. Thatpart of the fuel supply line which emerges from the jacket II isidentified by reference numeral Ill since III is the high pressure sideof the system while ill is the low pressure side. Pressure in'lilsometimes expands to 30 to 50 pounds while the regulator l2 maintainsthe pressure in l0 at the required 6 ounces 40 for domestic use.

Disposed above the unit is a water reservoir l3, having communicationwith the jacket H through pipe H. A filler opening i5 is provided in thetank I3 which is also provided with a float I6, whose stem l1 afiords avisible indication of the level of liquid in tank l3.

- In order that water in the system may circulate when heated, in themanner to be presently explained, a pipe l8 leads from one end of thejacket II to a heater l9. Apipe 20 extends from the heater l9 to theopposite end of jacket H where it enters the jacket at its side. Whenthe water in the jacket is heated, it will circulate about the pipe to,emerge from the jacketll through pipe 3 and pass through the heater I9in this pipe 24 as a means to shut off the fuel to the burner when thelatter is not needed.

A thermostat control 26 is mounted in one end of the jacket whosefunction is to close off the gas passing through pipe 24 to the burnerwhen the water in the system has been sufliciently, heated but in orderto insure reignition of the burner gas under normal operatingconditions, a pilot 21 attends. the burner and receives its fuel throughpipe 28 from the low pressure side ||l of the fuel line.

Under normal operating conditions, the thermostat 26 will operatebetween an arbitrary temperature of between 80 and 90 to maintain anoperative temperature of the water in the system. However, as a safetymeasure, the pilot 21 in being supplied with fuel through a separatepipe 28, continues to burn, causing the element 29 to hold the safetycontrol valve 39 open to the passage of gas through pipe 24 when thethermostat 26 operates to open pipe 24 when the water temperature dropsto a predetermined low degree. Thus, the burner 2| will be reignited toraise the water temperature to the required degree. On the other hand,should for any reason the burner and pilot be extinguished other thanthrough normal operation of the thermostat 26, then elements 29 and 3|would both function to close pipes 24 and 28 against further passage ofgas until such time as the cause is located and corrected and the pilotreignited manually.

In operation, water is poured into the tank l3 until such time as theentire system is filled and the water reaches the desired level in tankl3, indicated by the stem H of the float I6. The fuel at the burner 2|is ignited as well as the pilot 21. The valve of the fuel tank (notshown) 2,329,756 in which it is heated by a burner 2|, to be laterhazard since the gas will back up into the storage reservoir withoutinterference.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the vaporizerunit will not permitpassage of the wet gas through the line to the point of consumptionwhich is the reason for much damage due to explosions caused byvaporization of con densation in the room or enclosure where theutilities are supplied with fuel. On the contrary, only dry gas at areduced pressure is so supplied.

When a tank of butane or like fuel is used as a fuel for operating motorvehicles, a simpler arrangement is possible although possessingsubstantially the same principle. This form of the invention is shown inFigures 5 and 6 and consists of a jacket 34, surrounding the supply line35 and is closed at both ends as in the preceding case. In thisapplication of the invention, it is desirable to provide two separateheating agents for the water circulating in the jacket. One form ofheating agent is comprised of a pipe connection 36 which effectscommunication between the jacket 34 and the water system of the isopened to allow gas to pass through line l0 in a wet state and inpassing through the jacket II the pressure thereof in increased by theexternal influence of heat conducted by the water in the jacket which iskept constantly in circulation until the temperature reaches apredetermined degree, visibly indicated on a thermometer 33. When thewater reaches the predetermined degree of temperature, the thermostaticcontrol 26 operates to close the pipe 24 against further passage of gasto the burner 2| and the latter is extinguished until the watertemperature drops to a predetermined low degree, which will cause thesystem to become inefiicient. Further reduction of atmospherictemperature will result in condensation of gases and it is this that theinvention seeks to avoid. When the water temperature drops to apredetermined low degree, the thermostat operates to open pipe 24whereupon the burner is again automatically ignited by the pilot 21. Inthe event some factor extinguishes both ithe pilot and the burner, allhazard is overcome by the automatic closing of safety valves 3|! and 32,as described.

The gas regulator l2 permits only a predetermined pressure of dry gas topass through pipe l0 to a point or points of consumption at any time andwhile there will be a building up of pressure in the pipe l0, this willpresent no vehicle at the hose connection 31, which joins theconventional radiator 38 to the engine (not shown).

Return to the water system of the engine is provided by pipe 38connected to pipe 39 and which contains a thermostatic valve 38".Although not shown, it is necessary that the vehicle unit be mountedbelow the carburetor and radiator water level for efficient results,inasmuch as gravity returns the condensed gases to r the reservoir andinsures a water supply and efficient circulation in the unit at alltimes under normal operating conditions. The schematic showing in Figure5 represents at 39 the water return conduit from the radiator 38 to theengine after having emerged therefrom through hose 31 to the radiator.It is while passing through the hose 31 in a heated condition that apart of the water will pass into pipe 36 to enter and circulate throughthe jacket 34. The

, gas in pipe will thus be heated to vaporize the same, which will bepassed through the regulator 40 at a reduced pressure and in a dry formfor consumption as a fuel.

The auxiliary heater is comprised of the electrical heating coil 4 I,suitably protected by means of a tubular element 42 against the water injacket 34. The heating coil is connected to the vehicle battery 43 bymeans of wires 44 in which is arranged a suitable switch 45.

The electrical, auxiliary heater is employed only until the heat of theengine (not shown) raises the temperature of the water in the coolingsystem to a degree sumciently effective to heat the gas in the pipe 35,after which the switch 45 is operated to open the circuit to the battery43.

It is to be observed that the domestic vaporizer shown in Figure 1 mayalso be electrically operated by eliminating the gas burner and itsassociated elements, including pipes I8, 20, 24 and 28, since thesewould not be required. In this case, water would be circulated in jacketI alone by the electric heating element situated therein in the mannershown in the modified form (Fi ure 5). However, the water reservoir l3would remain the same as shown. A suitable thermostat islikewiseemployed when thus electrically operasaoaso that it be disposed as nearthe Point of sumption as conveniently possible in order the gasdelivered to the burners be in Is dry state as possible. A more intenseflame'is Droduced threeby and consequently more emcient results areobtained as against other gas drying systems required to be installedwell away from the building being served as a precautionary step, inwhich case condensation is again likely to take place before the gasreaches more especially when ture is 32 or under.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of somemodification and such modification as may be construed to fall withinthe scope and meaning ofthe appended claims is also considered to bewithin the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A safety control apparatus for fuel 888 systems comprising incombination with the gas supply line from the source of said gas, aJacket surrounding said supply line, a water reservoir for maintaining apredetermined quantity of water in said Jacket. a pipe line forcirculating the atmospheric temperathe burners,

con. that water through said Jacket, a heater in said pipe line, meansfor heating water as the same passes through said heater, means forsupplying fuel to ing the pressure of said heating means, meansautomatically operated to control said heating means in relation to thetemperature of water in said jacket and means for automatically closingoff the fuel source of said heating means when the flame thereof isextinguished.

2. A safety control for gas fuel systems comprising in combination withthe fuel supply line, a jacket surrounding said supply line, means formaintaining a predetermined quantity of water in said jacket, a heaterfor effecting circulation of water in said Jacket, means automaticallycon. trolling said heater, a gas regualtor for reducgas in said linesubsequent to its emergence from the influence of heat in said jacket,means for supplying fuel to said heater from the low pressure side ofsaid supply line and means for automatically closing otf said heaterfuel supply when the flame thereof is xtinguished.

ANDREW J. FAUCHER.

